Whirlpool WTW5057LW Deep Water Wash, PreSoak and Quick Wash Explained
Quick answer: On the WTW5057LW, Deep Water changes water fill, PreSoak adds a 30-minute soak, and Quick Wash is a cycle for a small, lightly soiled load. They solve different problems; selecting more options does not automatically make a load better suited to Quick Wash.
Which setting should you choose?
| Reference | What to know |
|---|---|
| More water for loose soil | Consider Deep Water with a cycle appropriate for the fabric and load. |
| A soak before washing | Select PreSoak where available; washing follows the soak automatically. |
| A few lightly soiled items | Quick Wash; Whirlpool’s “as little as 30 minutes” claim is based on a 3-lb load. |
| Large or heavily soiled load | Choose the appropriate load cycle instead of relying on the shortest program. |
1 · Choose the cycle
Check the garment labels and decide whether the load is small, bulky, delicate or heavily soiled.
2 · Add only what helps
Use an available water or soak option for a specific need. Recheck the selected settings before starting.
Deep Water: added water, not a fixed tub-height promise
Whirlpool describes Deep Water as automatically adding water to help loosen soil. Its feature description does not promise a particular visible waterline for every load. If you are trying to diagnose poor cleaning, the water level alone is not enough information to identify a fault.
The published cycle guide has two useful restrictions: Deep Water cannot be turned off on Bulky Items, and on Drain & Spin it is available only when Extra Rinse is selected. This explains why a control may behave differently after you change cycles.
PreSoak versus Quick Wash
PreSoak adds soaking time before the wash; Quick Wash is selected as the wash cycle itself. The linked guide lists 30 Min PreSoak among Quick Wash’s available options. Combining them therefore works against the goal of finishing quickly. Do not read the advertised 30-minute Quick Wash figure as a guaranteed completion time with extra options.
For example, if you only need to refresh a few lightly soiled shirts, start by checking whether Quick Wash suits their care labels. If the same shirts have substantial dried-on soil, reconsider the load cycle and stain treatment rather than selecting Quick Wash purely because you are in a hurry.
Does removing the agitator change this?
The model has a removable agitator and can use an impeller configuration for more room. This is a physical load arrangement, separate from choosing Deep Water or PreSoak. It does not turn every load into a small or lightly soiled one.
Decide how to arrange the load before starting and follow the removal/refitting instructions supplied with the washer. Avoid judging suitability only by whether all the clothes can be pushed into the basket.
If an option is unavailable
- Note the selected cycle and the exact label on the control.
- Check that cycle’s option row in the guide for your complete model number.
- Compare the washer’s supplied instructions if they differ from the linked shared guide; do not force a control or assume the machine is faulty.
The guide covers multiple models and states that available features vary. This page focuses on the three functions above, rather than presenting every program in that shared document as a WTW5057LW feature.
Related reference
For shelves and installation space, see WTW5057LW dimensions and lid-open height.
Sources and scope
- Whirlpool WTW5057LW product page — feature definitions and Quick Wash test load
- Whirlpool-hosted WTW5057LW cycle guide — option restrictions; shared-model document
Reviewed October 7, 2026 by KBV Home Reference Editorial. This is a manufacturer-document reference, not a hands-on product test. Match the full model number and the instructions supplied with your appliance.